Critical Incident Policy

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Critical Incident Policy
Introduction: In St. Cronan’s B.N.S. we aim to protect the well being of our pupils and staff by providing a safe, tolerant and caring environment as outlined in our school philosophy statement. The Board of Management through the principal, the staff and the Parents’ Association has drawn up a critical incident management plan. They have established a Critical Incidents’ Management Team to steer the development and implementation of the plan. What is a Critical Incident? ‘A critical incident is any incident or sequence of events which overwhelms the normal coping mechanism of the school and disrupts the running of the school’. Examples:  Death, major illness/outbreak of disease  Criminal incidents  Major accidents, serious injury  Suicide  Civil unrest, war  Fire, natural and technological disaster  Disappearance of student from home or school  Unauthorised removal of student from school or home.  World events that may affect the student body and/or staff. May be a need for provision of discussion and involvement in ceremonies e.g. 9/11, tsunami Definition of the School Community The school community comprises all  Pupils,  Staff members,  Members of the Board of Management,  Parents,  Guardians Critical Incidents’ Management Team:  Leadership Role: Maeve Tierney (Principal)  Communication Role: Vera Nolan (Deputy Principal)  Student Liaison / Counselling Role: To be decided  Chaplaincy Role: To be decided  Family Liaison Role: To be decided  Parents Association Rep: To be decided  B.O.M. Rep: To be decided The first-named person has the responsibility as defined. The second-named person assists and only assumes responsibility on the absence of the first-named.

St. Cronan’s B.N.S.

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Roles and Responsibilities
1. Leadership Role: Maeve Tierney
Intervention  Confirm the event  Activate the Critical Incident response team  Liaise with the Gardaí/Emergency services  Lead briefing meetings for all members of staff on the facts as known, give staff members an opportunity to express their feelings and ask questions, outline the routine for the day  Express sympathy to family  Clarify facts surrounding event  Make contact with other relevant agencies  Decide on an agreed approach regarding how news will be communicated to different groups (staff, pupils, outside school)  Organise the supervision of students (list of responsible adults, living in the immediate locality, who have agreed to supervise in an emergency appended. They must also be vetted.  Organise timetable for day As far as possible maintain normal school routines Post Event  Ensure provision of ongoing support to staff and students  Facilitate any appropriate memorial events  Review Plan

2. Communication Role: Vera Nolan
Intervention  With Team, prepare a public statement  Organise a designated room to address media promptly  Ensure telephone lines are free for outgoing and important incoming calls  Designate mobile numbers for contact  Liaise with relevant outside support agencies Post Event  Review and evaluate effectiveness of communication response

3. Student Liaison/ Counselling Role:
Intervention  Advise the staff on the procedures for identification of vulnerable pupils  Alert staff to vulnerable pupils  Outline specific services available in the school  Put in place clear referral procedures  Address immediate needs of staff  Provide materials for staff (from critical incident folder)  Provide information  Provide counselling

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Post Event  Provide ongoing support to vulnerable students  Monitor class most affected  Refer as appropriate  Review and evaluate Plan

4. Chaplain’s Role: Fr
Intervention  Visit home(s), if appropriate  Assist with prayer services  Make contact with other local clergy  Be available as personal and spiritual support to staff Post Event  Work in partnership with Critical Incident team  Review and Evaluate Plan

4. Family Liaison Role: (to be decided)
Intervention  Co-ordinate contact with families (following first contact by Principal)  Consult with family around involvement of school in e.g. funeral service  Assist with all communication dealing with parents of any student affected by critical incident Postvention  Provide ongoing support to families affected by the incident  Involve as appropriate the family in school liturgies/memorial services  Offer to link family with community support groups  Review and evaluate plan

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Action Plan
Short-Term Actions (Day 1)
    Immediate contact with family/families Consult with the family regarding appropriate support from the school, e.g. funeral service Ensure that a quiet place can be made for students/staff If incident occurs in the school, seal off the area immediately to facilitate investigation by emergency services/ outside agencies

Media Briefing (if appropriate)      Designate a spokesperson (Leader) Protect the family’s privacy Gather accurate information Prepare a brief statement (Team) It is important to obtain accurate information about the incident 1. What happened, where and when? 2. What is the extent of the injuries? 3. How many are involved and what are their names? 4. Is there a risk of further injury? 5. What agencies have been contacted already?

Contact appropriate agencies: 1. Emergency services 2. Medical services 3. H.S.E. Psychology Departments/Community Care Services 4. NEPS 5. BOM 6. DES/Schools Inspector           Convene a meeting with Key Staff/Critical Management Team Organize a staff meeting, if appropriate Ensure any absent staff members are kept informed Organise timetable/routine for the day. (Adhering to the normal school routine is important, if this is possible) Class teachers to take note of any absentees who might need to be contacted, list of friends etc, or any other relevant information. This is to be given to the Student Liaison person Arrange supervision of students Liaise with the family regarding funeral arrangements/memorial service The Chaplain/Principal will liaise with the family, to extend sympathy and clarify the family’s wishes regarding the school’s involvement in funeral/memorial service Arrange a home visit by two staff representatives within 24 hours, if appropriate. (Student Liaison person + Class teacher) Have regard for different religious traditions and faiths

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Medium-Term Actions (24-72 Hours)                  Preparation of students/staff attending funeral Involvement of students/staff in liturgy if agreed by bereaved family Facilitation of students/staffs responses, e.g. Sympathy cards, flowers, Book of Condolences, etc. Ritual within the school Review the events of the first 24 hours Reconvene Key Staff/Critical Incident Management Team Decide arrangements for support meetings for parents/students/staff Decide on mechanism for feedback from teachers on vulnerable students Have review of Critical Incident Management Team meeting Establish contact with absent staff and pupils Arrange support for individual students, groups of students, and parents, if necessary Hold support/information meeting for parents/students, if necessary, in order to clarify what has happened Give any teacher who feels uncomfortable with involvement in support meetings the choice of opting out Arrange, in consultation, with outside agencies, individual or group debriefings or support meetings with parental permission Plan for the re-integration of students and staff e.g. absentees, injured, siblings, close relative etc) Student Liaison person to liase with above on their return to school. Plan visits to injured - Family Liaison person + Class Teacher + Principal to visit home/hospital - Attendance and participation at funeral/memorial service (To be decided) - Decide this in accordance with parents’ wishes, school management decisions and in consultation with close school friends School closure (if appropriate) Request a decision on this from school management If incident occurs in the school: Contact the school’s insurance company within 48 hours Ask any witness to provide a written statement of the event within 48 hours Take photos of the scene if necessary.

     

Longer Term Actions Monitor students for signs of continuing distress. If over a prolonged period of time, a student continues to display the following, he may need assistance from the Health Board. Constant communication with family is essential.      Uncharacteristic behaviour Deterioration in academic performance Physical symptoms — e.g. weight loss/gain, lack of attention to appearance, tiredness, restlessness Inappropriate emotional reactions Increased absenteeism

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Evaluate response to incident and amend Critical Incident Management Plan appropriately        What went well? Where were the gaps? What was most/least helpful? Have all necessary onward referrals to support services been made? Is there any unfinished business? Maintain an up-to-date list of contact numbers Critical incident information will form part of all staff meetings. New information eg. Change of personnel, mobile number, address etc. will be inserted in policy/ contact lists.

Review the Critical Incident Plan      Consult with NEPS Psychologist Inform new staff/new school pupils affected by Critical Incidents where appropriate Ensure that new staffs are aware of the school policy and procedures in this area Ensure they are aware of which pupils were affected in any recent incident and in what way When individual pupils or a class of pupils affected by an incident are transferring to a new school, the Principal should brief the Principal of the new school

Decide on appropriate ways to deal with anniversaries (Be sensitive to special days and events)    Anniversaries may trigger emotional responses in students/staff and they may need additional support at this time Acknowledge the anniversary with the family Need to be sensitive to significant days like Birthdays, Christmas, Mother’s Day, and Father’s Day Plan a school memorial service Care of deceased person’s possessions. What are the parent’s wishes? Update and amend school records

Ratified by the Board of Management on 27 March 2012 Review Date: June 2013

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To be appended:      A list of emergency contact numbers – on card, laminated, attached to policy and also placed in a prominent position in staff room, school office and principal’s office. A list of all staff numbers A list of all parent numbers The role of each member of critical incident team to be on a separate sheet/card and immediately available to those people if ever needed. Emergency escape route plan for each classroom (in accordance with Health and Safety and Fire Drill policies) to be printed on card, laminated and put inside each classroom door – along with class list. List of responsible adults who have agreed to supervise classes in the event of a critical incident (generally to facilitate staff meetings). Vetting procedure to be undertaken, if they have not already been vetted.



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